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Judgment Day For Anthony Pellicano

by Diane Dimond on December 16, 2008

Circa 1993

I was brand new to Hollywood in 1993 when I started breaking stories about Michael Jackson and little boys. At first I couldn’t figure out why my phone at work on the Paramount lot (I worked for Hard Copy) kept popping and crackling. Then mobs of threatening Jacko fans knew just where to meet me when I left the lot at night to go to my car in a nearby parking lot. My house was vandalized, my home phone began to act weird. Private detective friends told me to watch out for a guy named Pellicano who called himself, “the sin-eater.” Hard Copy hired body guards to escort me to and fro.

Pellicano Back In The Day

Pellicano, today, at 64

Well, today, all these years later it was judgment day for the S.O.B. who made my life miserable … and over the years so many other’s lives.

He was sentenced to 15 years for conspiracy, wiretapping and all sorts of brutish skulduggery he had performed over the years on behalf of some of Hollywood’s most wealthy.

Victims got to have their say in court an L.A. court today. One is my friend, former L.A. Times Investigative Correspondent Anita Busch. Pellicano’s intense harassment of Anita – designed to scare her off reporting on one of Pellicano’s clients — is what finally sparked the beginning of the end to his years long rampage of domestic terror.

Courageously Confronted Pellicano In Court

She has been through hell and back, believe me. Here’s a link to Anita’s full statement in court today. Please take time to read it, its short. It will give you a great idea of how ingrained corruption is in Hollywood….right down to the L.A. Times, if Busch is correct in her assessment. She believes top reporters and a senior lawyer at the paper had long been in bed with Pellicano. And Busch believes that’s why the paper allowed her to be left dangling on her own, after Pellicano’s campaign against her. I first wrote about Busch’s allegations back in May.

It could amount to a life sentence…

It’s a fascinating read.

The federal prosecutor who went after Pellicano asked the judge to pass a 16 year prison sentence on the 64 year old who became a “high priced thief who fraudulently obtained prominence through the harm that he wantonly inflicted on others.”

The judge gave him 15 years.

I hope for Anita and me and all the others he terrorized over the years he serves every single day of that.

Hey Diane…..wow…yes I remember reading and hearing about your ordeal with this "SOB" – I think SOB is being kind actually but I guess we cannot swear! However, thank God….finally, yes finally, he gets sentenced to only one year less than was sought. What a pig he was for intruding on your reporting and indeed even more so intruding and invading your privacy. I just read about Anita too. I am glad he is going to serve time, but why, I wonder did it take this long to actually sentence him? Am I missing something? Anyway, thank God he is now sentenced. Pigs like this need to rot in hell.

FaceBook Friend Sherry writes:
“Diane I am so happy that the system (tho slow) has finally given you some justice for what you’ve been through. You have been such an inspiration to so many and have earned the respect of many also. I just want to Thank You for all you do and the long hours to see and help other’s in crisis. You truly are a Special Person. May God Bless You.
Just one of your many Facebook friends, Sherry”

Diane,
I just read your story here about Pellicano. Thank God that creep is now behind bars. I know of an ex-journalist from the St. Pete Times who, during the late 80’s, as a Food Critic was threatened in ways no one would really believe was true, the newspaper included. If it could happen to her, (afterall, it was onlyrestaurant reviews) it could certainly happen to you. I am happy that you did not let it stop you from doing what you do so well and that you still have a smile on your face.

What a shame, how ignorant some humans become , I recall that mans name when I worked for Michael Jackson, when he first got in trouble for molestation, we were told if anyone questions us to get hold of Anthony Pellicano. From one crook to the other!!! Too bad they didn’t put both of them together side by side in Prison.!!!!!!

I’m with you on that one Adrian. it must have been hell for you, I don’t think anyone could have imagined what was really going on at the time. You were so brave to stand up and speak the truth about the “King of Pop”. I was a fan now I’m just disgusted.
Regards
Sarah

His comments regarding MJ are fairly cryptic, but nevertheless interesting. Diane, you must feel slightly irked given Pellicano’s relentless intimidation of both yourself and multiple witnesses that had something to say about the King of Pop, now it seems that even Pellicano didn’t believe that MJ was innocent!
So the story unfolds!

Yes I read that article by my colleague at TheDailyBeast.com I too came away thinking Anthony Pellicano had – without quite saying so – confirmed that he too thought MJ was guilty of improprieties with young boys-sexual and otherwise. You can read in my book “Be Careful Who You Love” the emotionally scarring mind games sources reported to me he played with the youngsters, pitting one against another. Very sad.

I have read your book, it is to quote my young daughter “awesome”! I can’t help wondering what has made Pellicano suddenly decide to say something so controversial about one of his former clients, considering he defended him so vehemently in 1993/1994. What could you possibly do that was worse than molesting a child? Maybe a tell all book is in the offing when he gets paroled!

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